Imagining Emanuel

How do we know who a person is? Emanuel’s identity is unknown. He came to Norway in 2003, and claims to be from Liberia. But Norwegian Authorities believe he’s from Ghana, and have sent him there twice, only to have Emanuel rejected by the Ghanese Authorities and returned back to Norway. So Emanuels’ life is put on hold – in a vacuum with no permission to stay, and no legal possibility to leave.

Through several different documentary genres, Imagining Emanuel attempts to form an image of man calling himself Emanuel. At the same time, the film exposes the process of observing, and how credibility is formed in a documentary.

Imagining Emanuel raises questions concerning identity. What aspects of a person are documentary films capable of depicting? What is a true image of Emanuel?

“Could you prove the facts of your life? Rashomon meets real life in thisdascinating investigation of truth and identity.”
Myrocia Watamaniuk / HOTDOCS

“..an elegant and powerful film that reframes current discussion around identity, race and place.”
Nordic Dox Award – CPH:DOX